Father’s Standing Strong Presentation March 9, 2012

1. Father’s Standing Strong Presentation March 9, 2012 George Winn, COO The Children’s Center of Wayne County “Dad’s Across Generations - Their Role, Our Future”

2. Definition of Father • Webster’s defines father as: • a. A male person whose sperm unites with an egg, resulting in the conception of a child. • b. A man who adopts a child. • c. A man who raises a child. Fatherhood Conference, U of M, March 9, 2012

3. Fathers Standing Strong • Let’s Focus on the definition of a man who raises a child • We must consider that to understand the definition of a father one must understand our role: • Provider • Bread winner • Protector • Mate • Leader • Problem Solver • These were the corner stones of how men viewed themselves and anything less they were viewed as week. You have all heard the saying boys/men don’t cry Fatherhood Conference, U of M, March 9, 2012

4. Fathers Standing Strong • In these words I just mentioned no where do find the words: • Nurturer • Compassion • Exhibit Emotions/Feelings • Love • Listener/Communicator • Educator • All of these things are needed to be a complete parent Fatherhood Conference, U of M, March 9, 2012

5. Fathers Standing Strong • You also have to understand how other elements have impacted a mans view, or role : • Culture • Ethnicity • Economic Status • Education • Generation (when you were born) • Family Structure, (where you were raised) • Community – urban, rural, suburban Fatherhood Conference, U of M, March 9, 2012

6. Fathers Standing Strong • Stereotypes • Dead beat • Unaccountable • Lazy • Emotionless • Violent/Mean • Irresponsible/uninvolved • Disengaged • Distant/not approachable/poor communicator • No good/ multiple families/Pimp • (Good fathers have carried the burden for absent fathers) • The media does a great job to highlight when fathers drop the ball Fatherhood Conference, U of M, March 9, 2012

7. Fathers Standing Strong Data: • 24 million children in America live in a home without a father (US Census) • Children living in a fatherless home are 5 times more to be poor or live in poverty • Infant mortality is 8 times higher for unmarried mothers with no father living in the home(National Center for Health Statistics) • Youth in father-less house holds have significantly higher odds of incarceration(Journal of Research on Adolescence Sept 2004) • 46 percent of inmates report living in a fatherless home (Bureau of Justice stats 2004) • A study of 13,986 women in prison report more than half grew up without a father (Journal of Criminal Justice Nov 2002) • Kids without a father in the home are twice as likely to drop out of school Fatherhood Conference, U of M, March 9, 2012

8. Fathers Standing Strong Data: • Children in fatherless homes are 77% greater to be physically abused • Increase in teenage pregnancy • Increase in daughters being involved in destructive and or abusive relationships • Impact on obesity in children (Journal of Pediatrics 2002) • Increase in drug and alcohol abuse (Alcohol and drug abuse weekly 2005) Fatherhood Conference, U of M, March 9, 2012

9. Fathers Standing Strong Value of Fathers being involved: • We have seen the data and the information leads me to hypothesize that we are definitely fighting a war. So what are the benefits of fathers: • Increased cognitive ability, • Increased educational achievement, • psychological well-being, and social behavior The Impact of Fathers on Cognitive Ability and Educational Achievement • Children with involved, caring fathers have better educational outcomes. A number of studies suggest that fathers who are involved, nurturing, and playful with their infants have children with higher IQs, as well as better linguistic and cognitive capacities. • Toddlers with involved fathers go on to start school with higher levels of academic readiness. They are more patient and can handle the stresses and frustrations associated with schooling more readily than children with less involved fathers. • The influence of a father's involvement on academic achievement extends into adolescence and young adulthood. Numerous studies find that an active and nurturing style of fathering is associated with better verbal skills, intellectual functioning, and academic achievement among adolescents. Fatherhood Conference, U of M, March 9, 2012

10. Fathers Standing Strong Value of Fathers: • Involved fathers have a positive impact on their daughters self esteem. ( This is the first male relationship that a girl will have). Fathers that are positively involved shape this powerful relationship and connection. • Children learn and observe how fathers treat his/her mom or females. Real mean continue to open the door for women, treat them with respect, never show physical violence and intern; girls demand to be treated with a level of respect, carry themselves with more confidence, can be independent and strong. Fatherhood Conference, U of M, March 9, 2012

11. Fathers Standing Strong Value of Fathers: • Boys learn how to respect women. • Boys are better able to be involved in positive relationships. • Boys what to be like dad remember he role was man of the house. • Boys learn how to become a man. Fatherhood Conference, U of M, March 9, 2012

12. Fathers Standing Strong Fatherhood Conference, U of M, March 9, 2012

13. Fathers Standing Strong How do we get fathers involved: • Think about the environment in your work place. Does it give the impression that men are important? • Are there pictures of families that include men or are the pictures more of women and children? • Are there pictures of fathers and children? • What about your intake or screening process does it take in account gender differences? • Think about office norms today. When a female employee is pregnant we congratulate, we even provide showers. Dads are often treated invisible. • Does anyone look like me (we all like to feel comfortable) Fatherhood Conference, U of M, March 9, 2012

14. Fathers Standing Strong How do we get Fathers Involved: • Think about your meetings, the time, the duration men like short and concise meetings. Give the purpose, what you need and how we can help. • Do not process and over process. • Keep it simple • Have food • Relate the issue to our children (this is what it is all about). We want the world for our children. Fatherhood Conference, U of M, March 9, 2012

15. Fathers Standing Strong How do we get fathers Involved: • Make us feel valued. • Use the media, print highlight when we do well (the media constantly tells us when we do not meet the mark). When is the last time you had a dads corner in your agency news paper? • Greet us appropriately not as though you are surprised to see us. I once heard a person in the lobby say boy when he brings his child in for their appointment the kids are always dressed neat and clean. That implies we are not supposed to be able to care for our children. Fatherhood Conference, U of M, March 9, 2012

16. Fathers Standing Strong Where do we go from here: • Let’s make sure that we can develop a fatherhood club that is sustained in our community • Let’s consistently use the media to tell our positive contributions. • Let’s develop a Fatherhood Initiative in Wayne County • Let’s commit to hosting an annual Fatherhood Conference • Let’s establish a strategic plan that will allow for us to strategically address the statistics and make a positive difference in the lives of our children. Fatherhood Conference, U of M, March 9, 2012